Pancreatic cancer can lead to various digestive issues because the pancreas plays a central role in digestion. This gland produces enzymes that help break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food, as well as hormones, like insulin, which regulate blood sugar. When pancreatic cancer disrupts this system, a few key digestive problems can arise:

1. Malabsorption and Diarrhea

• Cause: As the tumor grows, it can interfere with the pancreas’s ability to release digestive enzymes into the small intestine. This enzyme deficiency, known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), makes it difficult for the body to break down and absorb nutrients properly.
• Symptoms: The result is malabsorption, where undigested food passes through the intestines, often causing loose, greasy stools (steatorrhea) that may float and have a foul odor. This malabsorption often leads to nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, and fatigue.

2. Bloating and Gas

• Cause: Partially undigested food can ferment in the digestive tract, leading to increased gas production and bloating. Because the pancreas is directly involved in the digestion of fats, a lack of pancreatic enzymes can cause fats to linger in the gut, contributing to bloating.
• Symptoms: Individuals may feel uncomfortably full, even after eating only a small meal, and may experience a frequent need to pass gas.

3. Nausea and Vomiting

• Cause: If the tumor grows large enough, it can compress the surrounding organs, including the stomach and intestines. This compression can block the normal movement of food through the digestive tract, leading to gastroparesis (a slowed emptying of the stomach) and, in some cases, an intestinal blockage.
• Symptoms: As a result, patients may experience chronic nausea, a loss of appetite, and vomiting after eating. This can be especially severe if the tumor obstructs the bile duct or pancreatic duct, disrupting normal digestive flow.

4. Unexplained Weight Loss

• Cause: Pancreatic cancer commonly leads to unintended weight loss due to a combination of malabsorption, reduced appetite, and increased energy expenditure from the body’s response to the cancer.
• Symptoms: Patients may lose weight even if they are eating normally because the body cannot properly absorb calories and nutrients. Alongside weight loss, patients may experience fatigue and muscle weakness due to malnutrition.

5. Jaundice and Digestive Symptoms Related to Bile Flow

• Cause: Pancreatic tumors, especially those located near the head of the pancreas, may block the common bile duct. This duct transports bile from the liver to the intestines to aid in the digestion of fats. When this duct is blocked, bile builds up in the liver and eventually spills into the bloodstream, causing jaundice.
• Symptoms: Jaundice presents as yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, and pale stools. When bile does not reach the intestine, fat digestion is impaired, leading to greasy stools and bloating.

6. New-Onset Diabetes and Blood Sugar Imbalances

• Cause: Since the pancreas produces insulin, pancreatic cancer can disrupt insulin production, leading to new-onset diabetes. This is more common in cases of pancreatic cancer than other types of cancer.
• Symptoms: Some patients experience digestive symptoms related to blood sugar spikes or drops, such as shakiness, hunger, and confusion, which can compound the discomfort from other digestive issues.

In summary, digestive issues in pancreatic cancer arise primarily from the tumor’s interference with the pancreas’s ability to release enzymes, process food, and regulate bile and blood sugar. These complications often become apparent as the disease progresses, and they can significantly impact quality of life due to malnutrition, discomfort, and pain. Early detection and treatment can help manage some of these symptoms and improve overall digestive function.